The Challenge

In this charity challenge, discover a land steeped in history and blessed with near-deserted sandy beaches, lush rainforests and a welcoming people. From the dramatic mountain-top fortress of Sigiriya and the former capital Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka boasts a rich cultural heritage. Finish off with the volunteer opportunity to spend some time assisting the local community in the Unawatuna region rebuild their lives in the wake of the terrible 2004 tsunami.

From Sri Lanka’s modern capital we head to previous seats of power, using a challenging combination of cycling and trekking. The first and oldest town we visit is the imposing citadel of Sigiriya, perched atop an impregnable and stunning monolithic rock. From here we journey forward in time over a thousand years to Polonnaruwa with its beautifully preserved ruins before arriving at Kandy, home to the famous ‘Temple of the Tooth’.

Eventually we arrive at Galle, a delightful walled city on the southern coast and the small fishing village of Unawatuna with its swaying palms and idyllic beach lifestyle which was so tragically shattered by the tsunami in 2004. Here we assist on various projects working alongside the local communities – you can even choose to participate in one which matches your chosen UK charity!

The Volunteer Project

Do something different and make a difference! We work directly with a number of small-scale charities and local organizations to provide direct assistance where help is not otherwise available. Participants can choose to devote their time to a project which is relevant to their ‘home’ charity. Current projects include: a home for elderly men, an orphanage, a displacement school for tsunami victims, a school for deaf and blind children, a home for brain-injured children and a psychiatric hospital as well as environmental support such as tree planting and pollution clearing.